Randall Grills Interior Secretary on Trump Budget Request to Slash 25% from National Parks Service

May 13, 2026 Press Release The Trump Administration DOGE’d 4,000 National Parks workers in 2025, a 25% cut would eliminate another 3,000 jobs WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congresswoman Emily Randall (D, WA-06), grilled Trump’s Interior Secretary, Doug Burgum, on the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget which would slash funding for the National Parks Service by 25% while setting aside $10 billion for Trump ‘beautification’ projects in Washington, D.C. — one of those projects being Trump’s $13.1 million request to repaint the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. “Here's a photo from one of my neighbors hiking on the North Fork of the Quinault trail in the Olympic National Park. This is a popular trail taken by young families, and is very clearly a safety hazard,” said Rep. Randall. “And we have another photo, an AI image that President Trump posted about a beautification project that he wants done in D.C. … Of these two images, which do you think should be the higher priority? Fixing a bridge that is a safety hazard for hikers, or changing the bottom of the reflecting pool? Sec. Burgum responded: “Well, my answer would be both, and that's why we're encouraging this committee and Congress to pass the GAOA [Great American Outdoors Act]…” “Please don't dodge my simple question, Mr. Burgum. Which is the more urgent maintenance?,” pressed Rep. Randall. *Video of Congresswoman Randall’s hearing remarks is available HERE , and full transcript HERE . * Randall also pressed Burgum on staffing concerns after the Trump administration DOGE’d 4,000 National Parks Workers last year: “Peak hiking season is just around the corner, and our local partners are worried that they won't have the staff they need to keep trails open and keep hikers safe this summer — let alone be able to empty trash cans and take care of bathroom facilities…you're requesting a 25% cut to the National Park Service in the President's FY 2027 budget, eliminating another 3,000 jobs. Olympic National Park is down to only one permanent staffer on their fisheries team.” Olympic National Park located in Washington’s 6th Congressional District is consistently the most visited National Park in Washington state. In 2024, the park welcomed 3.7 million visitors , generating $380 million for the local economy, and supported 2,880 jobs. As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs and Federal Lands, Randall has been a steadfast advocate for public lands and Tribes in Washington state. In August 2025, Randall introduced the EQUAL Parks Act to provide legal permanence to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within public lands agencies. The bill was introduced in response to Trump directing the National Park Service to remove exhibits and plaques at National Parks, including an exhibit depicting George Washington’s treatment of enslaved people at the President’s House in Philadelphia.